Ditch light question?

Hello all, I tried to search this forum and the web but could not find the answer to my question. So here it goes: I have purchased some D-Series PRO | Spot Midnight Edition with the following specs:

• Watts: 29
• Amp Draw: 2.07
• LED's: 4
• Raw Lumens: 3168
• Lux @ 10m: 388.94
• Beam Distance: 197.2 m
• Peak Beam Intensity: 38,894 cd

These lights came with a wiring harness, but did not include a relay. At what point is a relay required? Please someone enlighten me!!!

 

Are you planing on tapping into a stock Toyota switch or stock wire? Or using a switch and wire that came with the lights?

 

I bought the hood mounts and ditch switch from cali raised. Wiring harnes from rigid. The thing I dont understand is when a relay is required. It appears most wiring harnesses come with a relay. Mine did not.

 

I think the relay is a safety thing, relay fails before damage to your trucks wiring harness. But not 100% on that.

 

It’s not hard to install a relay and they are super cheap. I would recommend it just because it’s so easy to do and it could save your truck from catching on fire.

 

Did you ask who you got it from, if it was supposed to have a relay with it? I wouldn't do it without a relay. I've heard to many bad stories on here about that. I actually bought a relay holder from Cali raised only have two things plugged up and about to do some little lights in the grill but nothing that needs a relay. I would go with relau bud, order one with it or add one. Never added one but I'm sure it can be done.

 

I did go back to the place I purchased the lights. The did the same internet searches I did, then opened another package if their Rigid D2 ditch lights and confirmed that they did not come included in the packages from rigid. Rigid wire harness only has a inline fuse. Think I have convinced myself that a relay is needed, even if it was not included. Just wondered of there is am amp limit that requires a relays, or does every light you attach to your truck need one?

 

I'm not sure, honestly maybe someone else will know. I just know get the relay and the inline fuse. Sorry don't know the aimps just make sure you got that relay and you should be good. I haven't hooked mind is yet going to this weekend.

 

A relay is used when the device you are controlling draws more amps than the switch can handle. The relay operates the device and the switch operates the relay. This allows you to use a switch rated for 2 amps on a device that draws 20 amps. So if your switch can handle the draw of your lights then you don't "need" a relay but the full amperage of the lights will b coming in and going out of your cab, not the safest way to do it. Hope that helps.

 

Relays limit the amount of electrical current at your fingertips in the cabin. It is primarily a safety thing.

I suggest reading more here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-build-and-install-a-bussmann-rtmr-fuse-relay-block.399454/

You might not be creating a fuse/relay block in this instance but there is a wealth of background info.

 

Basically as others have mentioned the relay itself is a type of switch. The switch in the relay is meant to handle large electrical loads. Then the switch in your cab is meant to handle the very small electrical load that it takes to activate that relay switch. If your lights draw 2.07amps, then you will have 2.07amps coming from your battery, into your cab, through the switch, back out of your cab and to your lights. With the relay you will have 2.07amps coming from the battery to you relay, then to your lights. An incab switch would be used to power your relay which draws very little electrical load. 2.07amps is not a ton compared to other lights. If you had 140W lights they would be drawing 11.66amps into your cab through your switch which would be alot. Basically use relays for safety and they are easy to wire up so there is no reason not to.

 

Just wanted to say thank you for all the information. Looks like I will be adding a relay. There doesn't seem to be any downside and a ton of upside. TW is the best!!!